Haflinger horse breed

Haflingers can boast of rather ancient roots: the first mentioning of Haflingers dates back to the middle ages! The authors of medieval texts described small agile horses that traveled deftly and tirelessly on steep mountain roads. There are two main theories of the origin of the breed. The first of them says that the ancestors of the Haflingers were Gothic horses abandoned in the Tyrol valley. The eastern blood of Gothic horses still manifests itself in the exterior of Haflingers. According to the second theory, this breed originated from the Burgundian stallion sent to Tyrol as a wedding gift to the Tyrolean princess. However that may be, Haflingers lived in a mountainous area from time immemorial, so they perfectly tolerate harsh climate and poor diet.

Two world wars nearly destroyed the Haflinger horse breed. Due to their endurance and unpretentiousness, these horses regularly served in the Austrian army, but the breeding programs were stopped.

After the First World War, South Tyrol with its most thoroughbred mares went to Italy. North Tyrol with its stud stallions stayed with Austria. Further cultivation of Haflingers became complicated, but was still resumed in peacetime. During the Second World War, the Haflingers were actively used by the army to transport goods.

Currently, "sunny horses" are found around the world, but most of the livestock comes from Austria. There are tribal farms in the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and England. In total there are 250 thousand Haflingers in the world.

"Sunny horses" are easy to recognize by their appearance: a chestnut suit with shades ranging from light golden to rich chestnut, white or flax-colored mane and tail. Height at the withers is from 137 to 152 centimeters. The neck is of medium length, the withers are not pronounced, the shoulders and chest are sloping. The back and croup are long, muscular. The legs are clearly defined, with pronounced joints and wide hooves. Another distinctive feature of the Haflingers is a calm temperament. The quiet and kind nature of the horse is the standard of the breed!

Haflingers were withdrawn in the highlands. They are unpretentious to weather conditions and easily tolerate Russian winters. They are undemanding to the food and are completely comfortable with pasture grass and hay, and they practically do not need extra nutrition. Therefore, the Haflinger breed is recognized by farmers as the best for keeping and breeding. The harsh alpine climate and steep mountain roads made of these horses excellent workers for farms and farmland, so the Haflingers are often called "Alpine tractors."

Haflinger is a universal breed, it is suitable for horseback riding and can work in harness. It was created for the transport of goods in mountainous areas of Austria, as well as for agricultural and forestry works. At the end of the 20th century, the Haflingers were brought to India where they were used as packhorses for mountainous terrain. The experiment failed - the alpine horses could not adapt to the hot climate of India. But the Austrian army still uses the Haflingers for the transport of goods on rough terrain.

If you are looking for the perfect horse for the whole family, then Haflinger is the best option! They are smart and good-tempered, friendly and diligent. Haflingers love people and easily become attached to them. Such a horse will very quickly become a member of the family and a universal favorite! Thanks to the calm temperament Haflingers are often chosen for amateur riding and horse tourism. You can ride on them with small children without any fear and train those who do not hold well in the saddle or are afraid of horses. Haflinger is the most common horse for hippotherapy.

This breed is very popular in children's and junior sports. Haflingers are easy to learn and perfectly perform the various elements of higher education, participate regularly in the shows, jump marvellously well. In competitions Haflingers keep on par with other breeds and demonstrate amazing for their size athleticism and strength. They perform in runs, driving, vaulting, participate in competitions in jumping and dressage.